Hydrocarbon Detector Based on Carbon Nanotubes
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorJose M. Lobez Comeras
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Abstract
Hydrocarbon detectors having CNTs coated with an amphiphilic coating capable of sequestering an active molecule are provided. In one aspect, a hydrocarbon detection device is provided. The hydrocarbon detector device includes a plurality of CNTs dispersed in a polar solvent, wherein each of the CNTs is coated with an amphiphilic coating having molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the coating creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the CNTs; and one or more hydrophobic active molecules sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the CNTs.
Claims21
A hydrocarbon detection device, comprising:
- a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polar solvent, wherein each of the carbon nanotubes is coated with an amphiphilic coating comprising molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the coating creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- one or more hydrophobic active molecules sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes.
A method of forming a hydrocarbon detection device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting carbon nanotubes with a solution comprising molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety solubilized in a polar solvent, wherein by way of the contacting step (a) the molecules interact with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes to form an amphiphilic coating on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes which creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- (b) contacting the solution with one or more hydrophobic active molecules, wherein by way of the contacting step (b) the hydrophobic active molecules are sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes.
A method of forming a hydrocarbon detection device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting carbon nanotubes with a solution comprising polymer precursors solubilized in a polar solvent, wherein by way of the contacting step (a) the polymer precursors interact with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes, modifying the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes with the polymer precursors;
- (b) adding monomers to the solution, wherein by way of the adding step (b), the monomers will interact with the polymer precursors on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes to form polymers on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the polymers form an amphiphilic coating on the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes which creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes;
- and
- (c) contacting the solution with one or more hydrophobic active molecules, wherein by way of the contacting step (c) the hydrophobic active molecules become sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes.
A method of hydrocarbon detection, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a solution comprising i) a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polar solvent, wherein each of the carbon nanotubes is coated with an amphiphilic coating comprising molecules with a hydrophilic moiety and a hydrophobic moiety, and wherein the coating creates a hydrophobic environment proximal to a surface of each of the carbon nanotubes, and ii) one or more hydrophobic active molecules sequestered in the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of each of the carbon nanotubes wherein the active molecules are labeled with a radioactive isotope;
- introducing the solution into one or more oil wells such that upon any exposure to hydrocarbons in the wells one or more of the hydrophobic active molecules are transferred from the hydrophobic environment proximal to the surface of the carbon nanotubes to the hydrocarbons;
- collecting the solution once the solution has passed through the wells;
- and
- analyzing radioactivity levels of the solution collected from the wells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.